Tieng Thi Botbyl

February 13, 1949 – March 27, 2023 Tieng Thi Botbyl, age 74, of Redwood City, California, left this world to be with her Lord and Savior in Heaven, on Monday, March 27th, 2023. Tieng was born on February 13th, 1949 in Hòa Mỹ, Cần Thơ, Vietnam.

by Tina Chasty April 1, 2023 5:17 pmUpdated January 21, 2025 2:03 pm

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February 13, 1949 – March 27, 2023

Tieng Thi Botbyl, age 74, of Redwood City, California, left this world to be with her Lord and Savior in Heaven, on Monday, March 27th, 2023.

Tieng was born on February 13th, 1949 in Hòa Mỹ, Cần Thơ, Vietnam. She was the first born of 10 children and from a very young age was strong-willed, independent, and hard working. After finishing high school at age 18, Tieng began working as a Cashier at the NCO Club at Can Tho Airfield where she later caught the eye of an Army Serviceman named Harold Arthur Sangraw. In 1972, the two wed in Vietnam and soon moved to the Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco, CA. In 1974 they had their only child together, Jacqueline. In 1978, only 8 weeks after they purchased a home in Citrus Heights, CA, Harold passed away unexpectedly at the age of 44.

After being widowed, Tieng worked three jobs to pay the bills. Eventually she would earn her Cosmetology License and became a successful nail technician during the sculptured/acrylic nail boom. In 1981, Tieng met her second husband, Gregory W. Botbyl, in Sacramento, CA. They wed in 1982 (divorced 1990) and moved to Abilene, TX where, in 1986, their son, Jeffrey, was born.

After living in Texas for a number of years, in 1988, the family moved to Japan. In 1990, Tieng and the two kids ended up back in Citrus Heights, where she continued as a nail technician. Tieng had a green thumb and loved to garden. Everyone loved her cooking, and she most enjoyed spending time with her kids and grandkids.

She will be greatly missed by her friends and family.

Tieng was preceded in death by her first husband- Harold Sangraw, parents- Chanh Van Nguyen and Sanh Thi Tran, brothers- Thanh Van Nguyen and Van Nhan Nguyen, and sisterVan Thu Thi Nguyen. She is survived by her children and their families- Jacqueline Smith and David Smith, Jeffrey Botbyl and Nicole Botbyl, grandchildren- Asha Smith, Alex Smith, Olivia Botbyl, sisters- Ngan Thi Oliver, Nguyet Thi Tracy, Mai Thu Thi Nguyen, Loan Kim Thi Nguyen, and brothers- Vinh Tuan Nguyen, Phat Tan Nguy